Ocean Pollution

In addition to carbon dioxide, mercury, and marine debris, which are types of pollution, other man made pollutants constantly enter the oceans from a range of sources. These include oil, fertilizers, toxic chemicals, and sewage.

OIL & CHEMICALS

Oil spills may be the most infamous pollutant because popular media often vividly shows dramatic damage. The agonizing images of seabirds such as Pelicans covered in crude oil are hard to forget. Meanwhile, the extensive damage to marine environments from oil spills often lasts for decades.

The Safina Center’s founding president, Carl Safina, chronicles the 2010 British Petroleum oil blowout in the Gulf of Mexico in his book, A Sea in Flames, and in various interviews and other writings. Check out a selection of links to this content below.

Though less dramatic but still damaging, a large portion of oil pollution comes from waste and runoff from towns and cities. Every drop of oil spilled has a chance of finding its way to the ocean.

Pesticides, solvents, paints, and industrial chemicals also frequently reach the ocean. Many of these hazardous materials harm sea life and some return to land through contaminated seafood that people eat, which can cause health problems.DEAD ZONES

Dead zones are the result of runoff into the sea from land-based activities, and they can harm crabs, shellfish, and other sea life…Read More

3 things you can do right now to prevent ocean pollution:

1. Make the shift to clean, renewable energy when and wherever possible.
2. Remember all drains eventually lead to the oceans. Be very careful what you pour down any drain.
3. Stay informed, know the issues.